Little Falls transcript., 1887-05-27
be on hand and poster the hired

/
help anyway. I'd sooner grub along
anyhow than bother with any of
them if 'twant for this plaguey rheu-
mats. IL kinder ketches me wonst
in q while, and no use to talk, it takes
the spunk clean out of me. heard
they had some sort of lie down to the
| postoffce that was powerful good for
slch cases, and I guess / must get q
quarters worth, just to try it. Feel
| sort of 'fraid to, too"
"Girls, sit still, and I will be back
in q trice," and off few Rose, skim
ming past stately Helen Parker. who
still sat on the piazza, scratching
away with her pen, on an oval stand
before her.
''What are you up to now, Rose
Stoneleigh?"
"Can't stop to tell any fbs just
now," said Rose, as she flew up the
| broad stairway and into her room.
Presently she emerged an altogether
different looking person. In the place
OF muslin she had donned school
girl gingham, q white apron and a
plain linen collar, her hair all smooth
| ed down to get the contrary wrinkles
out Of perfectly natural, you know
| Down she went, stole back and seized
| Mrs. Dunning's blue gingham sun bon
| net, and darting out to the wondering
girls, had just time to signal them to
come to the front, when Miss Patty
emerged from the other side, and
was just about to ascend the
steps Of the comical vehicle. Mrs.
Dunning turned after her say
ing: II hope you'll succeed in your
efforts. Miss slocum. III wasn't so
busy I'D let Setina come up day or
two and help you out, but you see we
have the seminary girls-at least six
OF them-and it keeps one kinder busy.
! Why, what on earth|' Here the good
| old lady had to stop in sheer amaze
ment, for she recognized her sun-bon-
| net coming towards her with little
body underneath
Rose did not stop for anything, but
sailed up to Miss Patty, made de-
mure little bow and commenced:
"Please, ma aam, overheard part of
your conversation and thought I'd Of
fer myself, if you think | could strip
pie plant, or could help you anvway;'
and she dropped her white lids as
though she was frightened at her own
temerity.
"You don't look as if you could do
much. How much do you expect to
get a. week, and where did you come
from?' queried business-like Miss
Patty.
II came from over yonder some
miles, and have a sick aunt, and
want to earn some money. Please
try me, and if don't suit, | need not
stay"
"Well, seein' as how you came in
the nick OF time, and look kinder
clipper-like, III take you along. Have
you any recommends along?"
"No-o, | have not, but Mrs. Dun
ming here knows me, she did not ex-
pect to see me to-day hunting a place.
and the smiling eyes were turned up
on the landlords wife, and hid by the
sun bonnet, she made a grimace at
the puzzled face that was slowly tax.
ing III the fun.
"Oh, yes" explained the good, old
lady, II do know her, but I doubt
her capabilities regarding housekeep-
ing But Id try her ii were you.
You might do worse
'Can you come right along now? I'd
a heap rather you would, seein' as In,
clean tuckered out now"
"Oh. yes: certainly lean Mrs. Dun
ming. l left my bundle, a ginghum and
a few other things inside. Will YOU
have them sent? One reason that I
came was that Cora, over there: used
40 ~ AZ
girls were going to spend. part Of their
vacation here, and then thought I'd
kill two birds with one svoue if | could
earn bit while over" Miss Patty
looked rather suspiciously at the
white, dimp]ed hands, and it was in
her Thoughts as they finally drove
off. They went down into the heart
OF the village, and Rose pulled the
sun bonnet further down around her
face, murmurlng that 1.-THE sun was
rather warn2.'
t'Now, we will have to wait for the
10 O'Clock train,' said Miss Patty,
land if you will mind the horse,
I'll just drop right in the post
office and get what I want. ex-
pect my granddaughter on the train,
and if it happens to come in while Pm
IN here, you jes' keep an eye open for
q long, good-lookin' chap with all i'm
mensegilt chain, and tell him III be out
as soon as can get my lie and lamp
chlmneys, and other stuff. Mind the
horse now!"
So Saying off she went.
Rose sat very quiet for some min
utes, peeping from the depths OF the
bonnet 1t WAS dreadful, this having
to- wait when she was III for q irolic
len, l5 minutes went by, when, in
the distance sounded the locomotive
whistle
"Whew,." mimicked Rose, "a grand
nephew coming l suppose her idea of
a good-looking chap is one that can
do all manner Of hard work, and a
great gawk of fellow he is, I know"
Her revery was interrupted by the
stopping OF the train and the rush of
passengers getting on and off. With
q ting -a-llng, u aputf and a snort, the
great engine steamed out again with q
Long line OF cars trailing after.
Rose had all she could do to man
age the restless old mare. When
Doane finally got quiet, Rose looked
over towards the depot in search of
the gilt chain, that being uppermost
in her mind The passengers had all
gone their several Ways. except two,
these were a lady and gentleman.
There was cloud Of dust, q car
r'aee drove up, and amid shower of
greetings, the lady was helped in, and
Immediately driven off. Rose came to.
the conclusion that the tall gentleman
must be the nerhew aforesaid, who,
espying Miss Patty's turnout, came
over.